Key members of Congress reacted positively when the deal was announced in December. But no legislation has been introduced to authorize $1.4 billion in payments to individual Indians and create a $2 billion land consolidation fund.

“The need for Congress to act is real,” said Robertson, according to The Blog of Legal Times, which reported his remarks at the hearing.

Robertson said he would extend a deadline in the case one more time, until the end of May. If Congress fails to act, he said he will call a public hearing to figure out why.